With tornado season is right around the corner, people at the National Weather Service said they're worried people in the region might let their guard down when it comes to severe weather.

Jackson County is helping train its residents so that doesn't happen.

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About 200 people attended Tuesday's storm-spotting training session in Lee's Summmit Tuesday evening, learning how to recognize a tornado before it forms. The training session coincides with National Severe Weather Week.

Among Missouri counties, Jackson County is among the top 20 for most frequent tornado strikes. Since 1950, 31 tornadoes have touched down in the county.

Tuesday afternoon, people across Missouri heard sirens sound and practiced what to do in case of a tornado.

Students at Blue Springs South High School follow a new procedure.

"Go to the smaller classrooms, away from outer walls," said meteorologist and Blue Springs South teacher Pete Grigsby. "No hallways and no stairways."

Monday, the National Weather Service declared Jackson County "storm ready," a distinction that only 27 of Missouri's 114 counties have earned.

"The reality is, if a tornado comes, you've got very little time to prepare for that, so you need to know in advance and have plan for your family about what occurs when a tornado comes through your area," said Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders.